Tag Archives: Mahoning Valley NECA







Jeff Barber, VEC vice president of projects, on stage at NECA convention, being inducted as Fellow into NECA Academy of Contractors.

VEC’s Barber honored as Fellow of NECA Academy of Contractors


A “small but mighty” chapter is making big waves yet again on the national scene. Jeff Barber, the executive vice president of projects at VEC in Girard, has been inducted as a Fellow into the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Academy of Contractors. He was honored during the annual NECA convention in San Diego, Calif. […]

New leader for Mahoning Valley NECA: Attorney Chris Sammarone takes reins


A practicing attorney for 25 years, Chris Sammarone is the new executive director for the Mahoning Valley NECA chapter. He officially took the helm on May 1. He fills the seat left by Tom Lipka, who held the position since 2019. Lipka was recently promoted to a field representative position for NECA’s Eastern Region. Coincidentally, […]

Becdel Controls foreman Ryan Brant on second floor of wellness and recreation center.

Project Focus: Becdel Controls on the job at Warren wellness and recreation center


The steel outline of the new wellness and recreation center at Warren G. Harding High School can be seen towering between the school and Mollenkopf Stadium. Excitement in the community is building as contractors continue to pour hours of work into the construction. Architects with Phillips Sekanick say the idea for the center started coming […]

Electricians help school’s trap team target success


The Springfield Local Schools’ trap shooting team is aiming for greatness with support from the NECA-IBEW Electricians. The team’s second season is wrapping up on a high note. The sport involves shooting at fast-moving, clay targets in a designated field. IBEW Local 64 member Dan Donoghue is the head coach. He says the idea started […]

Kenny Cooper presenting commemorative plaque to local leaders

100 years and counting … IBEW Local 573 honors its past at anniversary event


In the decade leading up to when IBEW Local 573 was chartered in 1923, Warren was the fastest-growing city in Ohio. The industrial era was in full swing thanks to emerging electric and steel companies attracting throngs of immigrants to relocate to Trumbull County. Citing a surge of individuals practicing the electrician trade without adequate […]

Valley native makes another move up the NECA ladder


For the second time in five years, a Youngstown, Ohio native working for the National Electrical Contractors Association gets promoted. Jack Savage is now the Executive Director for the Eastern Region, which took effect at the end of February. Over the last four years, Savage served as NECA’s Field Representative for the Eastern Region, which […]

Chuck Wright, journeyman electrician with MG Electric, checks one of the three charging stations at WRTA in Youngstown.

MG Electric adds power source to WRTA


One location in Youngstown is a bit closer to the future as it embraces the term “Voltage Valley” with help from a member electrical contractor. MG Electric installed three charging stations in Youngstown for electric vehicles, or EVs, at WRTA’s administration location on Mahoning Avenue. There are three, dual-port chargers that will “charge any type […]

Electricians install pipe underground.

Local electrician follows in father’s “Boot” steps


Braeden Allen is not only earning money while he learns, but he’s doing it all while working alongside people he’s known forever. His father is Ryan Allen, job superintendent for Boot Electric. A construction wireman, the junior Allen has been learning the ropes “while friends have been at class in college,” not applying lessons to […]

Application period opens for LMCC Scholarship at Youngstown State


Now through May 1, applications are being accepted for the Mahoning Valley LMCC Scholarship through The Youngstown State University Foundation. Eligibility requirements include: Must be at least a sophomore A minimum 2.5 GPA Full- or part-time student A joint labor-management committee consisting of IBEW Local 64 of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley Chapter of the […]

electricians at Ultium

Business Journal Growth Report: Ultium Battery Plant Energizes NECA-IBEW


[As printed in the Business Journal Growth Report 2022 …] Heading into 2021, local electrical contractors and union electricians were hopeful the year would lead to steady, solid work. Driven by one particular project, the NECA-IBEW electricians experienced “the largest number of man-hours that anyone can remember,” says Tom Lipka, executive director, Mahoning Valley NECA […]